Man pleads not guilty in attack leading to coma

Craig Lawson, 34, of Ontario, Canada, is accused of assaulting a Tuscaloosa man in July.

Submitted photo

Staff, wire report

Published: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 11:41 p.m.

BATAVIA, N.Y. | A Canadian man pleaded not guilty to assaulting a Tuscaloosa man who was left in a coma after being beaten during a concert in western New York earlier this summer.

Media outlets reported that Craig Lawson, 34, of Ontario entered his plea Wednesday in Genesee County Court. Lawson was released after posting $10,000 bail.

Authorities said Lawson punched Jason McNeil during the July 5 Kid Rock concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in the town of Darien, 25 miles east of Buffalo. Police said the attack was unprovoked.

McNeil was in a coma at a Buffalo hospital for two weeks after the beating. He remains hospitalized. McNeil, a longtime Tuscaloosa resident, is a native of Alden, near Buffalo. A fundraiser was started for McNeil, his wife and two daughters. Kid Rock donated $5,000.

McNeil is the co-owner and operations manager of Synchronous Industrial Services, an automotive supplier that provides warehousing services, transportation, sub-assembly and quality support. McNeil is a member of the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club, a board member of United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama and an active member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

<p>BATAVIA, N.Y. | A Canadian man pleaded not guilty to assaulting a Tuscaloosa man who was left in a coma after being beaten during a concert in western New York earlier this summer. </p><p>Media outlets reported that Craig Lawson, 34, of Ontario entered his plea Wednesday in Genesee County Court. Lawson was released after posting $10,000 bail. </p><p>Authorities said Lawson punched Jason McNeil during the July 5 Kid Rock concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in the town of Darien, 25 miles east of Buffalo. Police said the attack was unprovoked. </p><p>McNeil was in a coma at a Buffalo hospital for two weeks after the beating. He remains hospitalized. McNeil, a longtime Tuscaloosa resident, is a native of Alden, near Buffalo. A fundraiser was started for McNeil, his wife and two daughters. Kid Rock donated $5,000.</p><p>McNeil is the co-owner and operations manager of Synchronous Industrial Services, an automotive supplier that provides warehousing services, transportation, sub-assembly and quality support. McNeil is a member of the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club, a board member of United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama and an active member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.</p>